SS integrated with a good DAC

If you can wait til September, Harman Kardon will be releasing their HK 990 in the USA. This integrated has the high-end AD1955 DAC onboard, plus room correction, and is very well thought of in Europe.

http://www.harmankardon.com/EN-US/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=HK%20990

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/cd-players-and-recorders/harman-kardon-hd990-cd-player-594768/review

The Mani-2s are one of the hardest to drive speakers out there. A friend with a McIntosh MA6900 had problems. Seriously.

You're not going to find anything that'll drive them with any control for $1500 IMO.

The HEED AUDIO OBELISK Si ( with X-2 even better )does it in a very musical and musculair way. Retail for Si in Europe is € 1250 and for the X-2 € 750. The Dactil 1.2 Dac-card is € 299 but it's a great sounding DAC !! It's even possible to upgrade with an extra amp ( The Obelisk PAS retail € 990) for true bi-amping. I have heard it play and the Heed Obelisk is one of the few amps that really makes the Mani's sing. But I don't know if they are sold in the US already.

Tact M2150 if you do not use analog sources would be perfect ... there was one here recently. I am a former owner having moved to the very similar Lyngdorf TDAi 2200 with full room correction

A couple of Bel Canto units here now, but for a bit more than I'd guessed. No connection to sellers. J

There's this, from Bel Canto.

http://www.belcantodesign.com/Belcanto_S300i_Integrated_Amplifier.html

I think it retails for 2k, so it should hit your price point used, if it comes up. I seem to remember reading favorable press. John